LINCOLN – Alfonzo Dennard was a split second away from a game-changing interception in the third quarter against Oklahoma, a play he may not have attempted a month ago.

The football was in Dennard's hands as he tried to jump the passing route near the NU sideline. And no one stood between him and the end zone, about 40 yards away. It could have been just as momentous as Prince Amukamara's interception in the second quarter that led to a touchdown.

But Dennard didn't catch it and actually fell down without tackling Oklahoma receiver Dejuan Miller, who gained 12 yards before safety Matt O'Hanlon brought him down.

Coaches didn't yell at Dennard, though. They have pleaded all year for that type of aggressiveness from the sophomore cornerback.

“They said I made a good break, but what I should have done was just long-arm it and secure the tackle,” he said. “It was a good break, and I played aggressive. That's what they liked.”

But that play — his interception whiff — was an example of what Dennard feared most when he initially stepped into the starting lineup against Missouri a month ago.

Playing with the limited experience he gained during noncompetitive situations last year, Dennard was just trying to prove that he could be a reliable cornerback.

He didn't want to make the critical error, the one that could cost points. That led to tentative play.

“My mind was thinking about mistakes,” Dennard said. “When I went out there, I didn't want to be the person that made mistakes.”

Now that he has started five games, that apprehension has dissipated. He has played through those typical moments of inexperience and picked up aspects of the game that can be learned only while on the field.

And he's still out there.

That's made Dennard more confident than ever, secondary coach Marvin Sanders said.

“When you have an athlete with his talent that's comfortable and confident, I think you have a chance to make special plays. And he has,” Sanders said.

Dennard recorded a season-high six tackles against Oklahoma. He doesn't have an interception this year, but he does have six breakups.

For the past few weeks, he has played with a sore left shoulder. He sprained it against Texas Tech, reinjured it early against Baylor and hurt it again late against Oklahoma.

Dennard said he's OK, even though the shoulder isn't pain-free. He didn't finish Saturday's game after he landed awkwardly with three minutes left. He wanted to finish but he was having trouble lifting his left arm.

“The kid's tough,” Sanders said.

In more ways than one. Dennard plays through pain and, at 5-foot-10, he's strong enough to bring some peskiness to the position. And he's figured out how to rid himself of any mental anxiety that once hampered his development.

He's fearless now, Dennard said, but only when the scheme allows.

“I know when I have a safety behind me, so I know I can play as aggressive as I want to play,” he said. “That's my style. I like playing physical ball. That's what I'm here for, to play physical and make plays.”

Contact the writer: 402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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